Pauline Hanson refuses to apologise over autism comments
Pauline Hanson has refused to apologise after calling for disabled students to be removed from mainstream classrooms and referring to some teachers as “do-gooders”.
At a press conference on Thursday, the One Nation leader refused to back down from her comments made in the Senate on Wednesday, furiously accused the media, Labor and the Greens of lying and said she was taken out of context.
“For the Greens to come out and say I do not believe they [children with disabilities] should be in our classrooms is a complete lie,” Senator Hanson said on Thursday.
“It is misrepresentation and it is political point-scoring.”
Senator Hanson claimed her office had been “inundated” with support from teachers, parents and children.
“To go out there and say that I want to stop children from going into classrooms is disgraceful, it is misleading, that is very hurtful to the parents who do have children with autism,” Senator Hanson said.
She said it was not her intention to upset people, but stopped short of apologising.
“We have to debate these issues. There is a problem in our society,” Senator Hanson said.
“I feel for every child in this country. Every child has the right to an education.”
WATCH: Senator Pauline Hanson's responds to criticism of her comments on school children with autism. #AusPol #9News pic.twitter.com/oBTDbYcGsL
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 22, 2017
Queensland Senator Murray Watt hit back at the accusation Labor was misrepresenting the speech to score political points: “No. We just think politicians should treat everyone in the community with respect,” he wrote on Twitter.
Senator Hanson’s speech on Wednesday came after the Turnbull government appeared to win enough Senate support to pass its controversial Gonski 2.0 schools funding package.
In offering her support to the government, Senator Hanson expressed concern that teachers were struggling to deal with disabled students in mainstream classrooms.
“I hear so many times from parents and teachers whose time is taken up by children in the classroom where they have a disability, or whether they are autistic,” she said.
“These kids have a right to an education by all means.
“But if there is a number of them these children should actually go into a special classroom – looked after and given that special attention.
“It’s no good saying we’ve got to allow these kids to feel good about themselves, and we don’t want to upset them, and make them feel hurt.
“I understand that. But we have to be realistic at times and consider the impact they are having on other children in the classroom.
“We need to get rid of those people because you want everyone to feel good about themselves.”
Senator Hanson also said there were not enough “special classrooms” or schools for autistic students.
Labor MP Emma Husar, whose son has autism, earlier demanded an apology from Senator Hanson.
Disability advocates and politicians also slammed Senator Hanson for her suggestion.
An angry and tearful Ms Husar hit out the One Nation leader on Thursday, saying Senator Hanson “owes an apology to every single autistic child in this country”.
Ms Husar’s son, Mitch, was diagnosed with autism when he was 18-months-old when she was told he would never speak or play in a sports team.
Now aged 10, Mitch is doing both, she said.
Ms Husar said she was disappointed that in 2017, people like Ms Hanson could be in the Senate “making ill-informed comments about kids that are autistic”.
“Kids like my son Mitch, who’s 10 and autistic and has been in mainstream (classes) for a few years now, but that wasn’t always the case,” she said.
“He does very, very well.”
https://twitter.com/DavidSharaz/status/877656626571784192
Ms Husar said she, and other parents of special needs children, should not need to defend their children.
“She [Senator Hanson] owes an apology to every single autistic child in this country, every one of the parents who are like me – because we’ve got better things to do than defend our kids,” she said.
“I’ve got one thing to say to every single child on the autism spectrum who is going into the classroom today … you matter.
“Even on the days that are hard, when you’re frustrated and your disability makes you angry you are still better than she is on her best day.”
My son Mitch. Much loved cared for and included making incredible progress. More funding not less in mainstream matters. So does inclusion. pic.twitter.com/Be8zpoOVgD
— I’m just Emma 👑 (@emma_husar) June 21, 2017
– with ABC and AAP